[Essbee]

Fascinating comments, everyone.

I do know a Vietnamese-American guy from my college (Ivy League) who is a high level I-banker of some sort on Wall Street… He had no connections; parents were immigrants and he grew up here in lovely Lakeside!

I am a “white” and had nothing but generations upon generations of farmers in my background. Some immigrated in the late 1800s/early 1900s, some much earlier. One grandfather was a police officer, one was in sales. Grandmothers were housewives; later one grandmother was a secretary and one worked in a department store. My parents went to college, but my father is a mostly unemployed engineer and mother an admin assistant type. So, I don’t think I had a fast track to anything… yet somehow I made it into the Ivy League, medicine, etc.

My husband had a similar pink collar type background (parents RN and teacher). He and I paid for all of our own wedding expenses, house down payment, etc etc. I am proud of this, but it wasn’t easy. Never got to consider something like “a gap year” or even a summer trip to backpack around Europe during college. Everything has been focused on going to the next step.

I guess I never really considered many careers besides medicine or science as those were the only fields that seemed more focused on merit than connections as a condition of employment.

It’s strange to say, but I often feel like I have more in common with people who are (mostly) 2nd generation Asian/Indians than with most other white people that I meet.

And I sometimes worry about my very blonde children being not taken as seriously in the classroom as their Asian/Indian peers. :/ I feel that they have to “prove” themselves, too.

Argh. It’s all interesting, though.

[Essbee]

[quote=bearishgurl]…Tierrasanta and Serra Mesa both share a HS…[/quote]

No, not true. Serra Mesa goes to Kearny HS in Linda Vista.
https://www.sandiegounified.org/node/219

However, the HS for Tierrasanta is (Junipero) Serra HS, perhaps contributing to the confusion here.

[Essbee]

[quote=AN][quote=FlyerInHi][quote=AN]
Although it might not make make difference for me voting for Hillary in California but I will definitely vote against Duncan Hunter if he run for reelection specifically because he endorsed Trump.[/quote]

I don’t vote in CA anymore…. But does Duncan Hunter represent Mira Mesa?[/quote]He’s a congressman for California US District 52. Here’s the map of District 52: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/California_US_Congressional_District_52_%28since_2013%29.tif/lossless-page1-1280px-California_US_Congressional_District_52_%
28since_2013%29.tif.png
Short answer is yes.[/quote]

No, this is wrong. He represents District 50 — more of an East County district.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California%27s_50th_congressional_district

Mira Mesa is District 52 — represented by Scott Peters.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California%27s_52nd_congressional_district

[Essbee]

In 4S Ranch, I have not had any problem getting my kids into the school-sponsored afterschool program nor the summer program at Stone Ranch. I haven’t heard of major problems at any of the other schools, either. For the Poway Unified School District, the after school and summer program is called “ESS” — “Extended School Services.” I enroll my daughter in ESS and then pay for a few additional “enrichment” classes offered through FitKids America or KidzTyme. These classes are onsite and the majority of kids taking them are ESS students, although some other students take them as well. My daughter has taken classes ranching from Reading Enrichment to Chess to Soccer to Hip Hop Dance. If they are not taking these enrichment classes, ESS has various activities for them as well.

Another popular afterschool option among our acquaintances is “All Star Academy” on Thornmint Road. They seem to have a more academic focus and have options like Chinese language, Spanish, etc. They transport kids via a van from several local schools.

On the north side, there has sometimes been overcrowding for school enrollment at Monterey Ridge. I think there are some old threads here on that issue. I didn’t hear of any one who didn’t get in last year, so it may be improving.

Design 39 (D39) may also have more applicants than spaces. You have a much higher chance of getting in if you live in Del Sur vs if you live in 4S Ranch, as the slots are allotted based on Mello Roos. I have heard that some parents like the freedom/open concept of this school and some do not, so this may or may not matter to you.

[Essbee]

I was at Costco Carmel Mountain over the weekend. What amazes me is how normal-appearing people will jostle and grab 5 samples without any thought to the person who has been waiting politely for their turn (ie me). Or they reach WAY across the sample tray to get the largest sample, rather than taking the one closest to them. I pretty much just avoid the samples now (and better for my waistline anyway).

Love the pizza slice at the patio but at ~800 calories per slice, it is best to avoid it.

I’m pretty sure that the gas was $2.09 on Sunday. (But I did not stop due to the crazy line).

[Essbee]

[quote=njtosd]
The API scores haven’t been updated in 2 years. Just for arguments sake, Canyon Crest Academy (San Dieguito Union High School District – same as Torrey Pines HS) is ranked 85th in the nation, whereas Scripps Ranch High School is 471st. Torrey Pines is #231 – all according to US News and World Report. Canyon Crest is also ranked 15th in the state and historically has had the highest API in the county since about 2011. It’s a great school and in my opinion worth trying to get in – but it’s a lottery, so no guarantees.[/quote]

I was interested to see more updated scores and found the following link which suggests that the API scores are simply not being calculated at all for the next 2 years, due to the implementation of Common Core and possible changes in methodology for calculating API.

State Board makes it official: No API scores for next two years

and
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/api-653961-state-school.html

That aside, I do not think that small differences in API (among excellent schools) are significant, or at least they should not be significant enough for a family to base their housing decision on this. If anything, I am a bit worried about all the high achievers in my neighborhood (4S). My smart kids may end up as little fish/big pond in this particular school. I’m about to head to the Stone Ranch K-5 Science Fair in a few minutes, and I’m sure my head will be spinning. It’s really a bit out of control (and yes, we participated, too).

[Essbee]

Hi there, I am a south 4S resident. I like it very much here. We considered Scripps Ranch as well when we were househunting in 2012. We mostly liked the south of Pomerado area. However we were concerned about fire danger and possibly even uninsurability of some of the properties in that area. We were also concerned about traffic along Pomerado Road and our commute to the UTC area. It seem like any commute along surface streets thru Mira Mesa would be a nightmare, but it would also not be optimal to take 52 or 56.

I’m a little confused about your assertion that 4S and Del Sur are more inland compared to Scripps Ranch. Scripps Ranch is obviously east of 15, where as 4S and Del Sur are west of 15. Thus I would consider Scripps Ranch to be more inland. ??

As for the schools, I don’t know whether the schools in 4S and Del Sur are really considered “better” than SR, but I will say that they’re very good. The Mello Roos on the south side are less, and there are also some areas with more mature trees.

[Essbee]

[quote=flu][quote=Essbee]Hmm, but if you pay now, and the extra goes toward principal, doesn’t a larger proportion of your January and February payments go toward interest instead of principal? (ie because the remaining principal is less) on the date that those bills are generated?[/quote]

It’s the other way around. If your outstanding principal is less, interest computed is on a lower principal. Your monthly payment remains the same, but a a larger portion of it goes to principal instead of interest payments. If in doubt, just go use a decent amortization calculator.[/quote]

Argh, I did know that but I said it wrong! Thanks.

[Essbee]

Hmm, but if you pay now, and the extra goes toward principal, doesn’t a larger proportion of your January and February payments go toward interest instead of principal? (ie because the remaining principal is less) on the date that those bills are generated?

[Essbee]

I don’t know for a fact, but I think yes. The elementary school has these “commemorative hand tiles” that kids decorate each year as a fundraiser, and I’ve seen one that says “C____ Romney 2008.” She is one of the older granddaughters, so thank makes me think that they have been there since at least 2008. I think that was around the time Ivy Gate was built, too.

Interestingly, I am also told that one of Ann Romney’s nieces/nephews and family also live in that neighborhood.

FWIW, I think Ivy Gate may already be back to pre-recession values, or at least nearly there.

[Essbee]

My dad was walking on Windansea beach a few months back (maybe August) and actually saw Mitt on the beach, talking to someone who appeared to be some sort of contractor. I also have friends who have spotted him at other locations, so I think he may be here a fair amount.

Also, two of Romney sons and several grandkids live in 4S Ranch (Ivy Gate, to be specific). Several of his grandchildren attend Stone Ranch Elementary. Mitt was spotted walking in and dropping off some of the grandkids at school last February. (It may have been the day when their mom had a baby, or soon thereafter).

[Essbee]

My daughter plays spring soccer with weekly games at Willow Grove and I have never even noticed a mosque nearby. Nor have I noticed one on Camino del Sur itself. I am going to have to look again.

[Essbee]

The new Del Sur Target opens tonight, 5PM-9PM, then again tomorrow morning!

[Essbee]

We haven’t turned ours on yet, but we are thinking about it. It’s 89 indoors here (10PM in 4S ranch), but somehow that doesn’t seem to bother us much. I never had it growing up in San Diego, and I don’t really like it. If I did have it, I’d probably set it for about 82F or so.

However, if it hits 69F, I definitely turn on the heater. 🙂

[Essbee]

Re: utilities, doesn’t the water bill generally stay in the landlord’s name? In my former apartment dwelling life (9+ years ago), it seems like this was the case…

Maybe this is for apartment buildings, only.

I always assumed that maybe the water company bills from the street, and can’t install meters for each individual unit?

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